The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-07
JUHN C. CALHOUN.
His True Character Revealed by One of His
Personal Acquaintances.

Character Revealed
Personal Acquaintances
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Yesterday afternoon reporter called upon
John G. Vaughan, at the Old Mems Home, Wal
Hills. Mr.. Vaughan is now eightyone
wears old and has an eventful life behind him.
But what particularly connects his name with
recent events is his intimate acquaintance with
John G. Calhoun. to whose memory monument
was recently built by citizens OF the South, who
still loath give up the fond ties of the lost
cause.
Mr.. Vaughan is feeble and infrm, but his
large. luminous eyes still indicate the possession
of q vigorous and tenacious mind. He was born
in Camden. S. c., in 1906. He graduated from
college in England, and studied law with Mr..
Pettigrew, in Charleston. Returning TO Cam
den he practiced law there for four or five years.
AS young man he formed feeling of hatred
against that of all villainies African slavery,
on American soil. This feeling was enhanced In
spite of the surroundings ia State which was
the parent OF the great rebellion under the in
sidious leadership of John c. Calhoun. Mr..
Vaughan about twenty-five years OF age
when the NULL fcation history of South Carolina
began. 1t was struggle that continued during
the years 1880, 1881, 1882 and 1888 The i'm
pressions of the venerable man are best given in
his own languages:
1.-THE leaders of the notification side were Cal
houu. McDufie. Hamilton. Tumbull and Dr.
Cooper. In fact, the latter two were the great
origlnators of the work. was a young man at
the time. and my sympathies were with the
Union party. Modification, of course.
equivalent to secession of the State from the
Union Associated with us in the Union party
were Judge Huger, Mr.. Pettigrew and Mr.. Me-
Wiley. Calhoun was a most consummate
cation most adroitly. In 1929 he wrote
out a report which he submitted to the
committee federal relations of the South
Carolina Legislature just before 1t adjourned.
Hugh s. Legare. chairman of that committee.
was strong Union man. and Calhoun covered
the wickedness of his report under this guise.
In spite of the fact that the chairman was a
Union man, the cunning of Calhoun carried the
day. The report adopted and submitted TO
the State It was voted for and passed Thus
South Carolina, by the adroitness of Calhoun.
committed to notification. The issue was
thus made and the nullihers carried the State
by majority. OF course you will understand
that at this time the people did all their voting
by means of the Legislature. The majority for
notification in that body was four. James Hamil-
ton was Governor at the time. and he at once
proceeded to carry out the purport of the meas
and in conjunction with the Legislature
passed the notification act, 4th of March, 1882.
By its provisions all the tariffs nullifed.
and South Carolina practically became separated
from the Union. General Jackson was Presi-
dent AZ the time. He WAS rough and uncouth.
but he man of determipation. He sent
General Scott with armed naval force to
South Carolina, and Governor Hamilton was
obliged to yield. The act of notification was
postponed. The prompt action of the Pres
dent led to a compromise on the subject of the
tariff between Mr. Calhoun and Mr.. Clay in the
United States Senate. l think Mr.. Clay In this
made a snrious mistake. By the terms
of the compromise the tariff was
reduced to the lowest point OF course.
this is record of history, and yet
I must be excused in narrating these facts be-
cause took active interest IN that struggle.
Although was personally acquainted with Mr..
Calhoun, and L am convinced he was pure man
in his private domestic life have every reason
to believe that in American history time will
strengthen the impression that he was a villain
of the deepest dye, and that he was actually the
father of the great Rebellion. There
sincerity in that man. He worked for his pet
theories alone. and not for the good of the peo-
pie. Look at his fickleness of views on the tar
if He was first latitudinarian of the strongest
type when he Secretary of War, and after
ward, in 1878 he changed his tactics completely
well remember the exciting days in Charleston
after the notification act had been passed Two
parties, each numbering 300 men. armed to the
teeth. were formed in the streets. Governor
Hamilton was in charge of the Nullifers. and
Mr.. Pettgrew was ia command of the Union
men. | was in command of one of the divisions
of the latter The armies met at certain street
and there imminent danger of conflict and
bloodshed. But conference of leaders was
held. The Nullifers stepped to the sidewalk
and the Union men courageously resumed their
line of march"
In regard to Mr.. Calhoun's personal character
istics MIR. Vaughan said:
He was a man of pure domestic life. His po-
litical principles thoroughly bad He
insidious in his methods. He was not man of
generally calm, dignihed and non i'm
FASHIONED in his remarks. He was more massive
than eloquent argumentatlve and metaphysical
throughout
Mr.. Vaughn expressed his intense indignation
at the disgrace heaped upon the American
nation by raising monument to the political
principles of such man. The longer the Nation
lived the more execrable would the memory of
John c. Calhoun be- It simply a perpetual
ton of those principles which were sown by him
and generated the policy of breaking up the
Union of the States
The venerable gentleman also spoke of Mr..
Calhouns conversational powers. He could
terrain entire massmeetng for a whole
night In this connection he mentioned an incl
dent which happened connection with a ban
uuet rendered the members of the bar on one
occasion by Governor Hamilton. AT late hour
a was heard at the door of the dining room.
and when it opened, in stalked the stately
figure of Calhoun. He pressed, almost
forced to a participation in the festivities, and
actually kept the company awake and interested
by his rich fund of conversation until o'clock
in the morning